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Trip from Hollywood, FL to South Sarasota, FL

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 56m

Distance

212 mi

341 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$34

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min
4 AM
3h 44m ★
6 AM
3h 57m
8 AM
4h 23m
10 AM
4h 6m
12 PM
4h 3m
3 PM
4h 7m
5 PM
4h 21m
8 PM
3h 49m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown South Sarasota, FL, FL

South Sarasota, FL

Jeffrey Eisen

Trip Overview

The drive from Hollywood, FL to South Sarasota, FL covers 212 miles and takes about 3h 56m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 75, Port Everglades Expressway, I 95 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 186.4 miles on I 75. At current regular gas prices, budget about $33.74 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

106 miles from Hollywood, FL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 57m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 75 186.4 mi 3h 19m
Port Everglades Expressway 11.8 mi 13m
I 95 4.1 mi 4m
Clark Road 3.9 mi 6m
Hollywood Boulevard 1.2 mi 1m
Swift Road 1 mi 2m
Proctor Road 1 mi 1m
South Tamiami Trail 0.4 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 75 — 186.4 mi, about 3h 19m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Hollywood, FL and South Sarasota, FL.

1

Start on SR 820

216 ft · 12 sec · Hollywood Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
2

Continue on SR 820

0.8 mi · 1 min · Hollywood Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
3

Keep slight right at fork onto SR 820

0.4 mi · 38 sec · Hollywood Boulevard
4

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 42 sec
Toward I 95 North: West Palm Beach Use the right lane.
5

Merge onto I 95

4.1 mi · 4 min · I 95
6

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 29 sec
Exit 24 Toward I 595: Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Keep slight left at fork

0.9 mi · 1 min
Toward I 595 West Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
8

Merge onto I 595

1.7 mi · 2 min · Port Everglades Expressway
9

Keep slight right at fork onto I 595

10 mi · 11 min · Port Everglades Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Merge onto I 75

186 mi · 3 hr 19 min · I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 52 sec
Exit 205 Toward FL 72: Siesta Key, Arcadia
12

Keep slight left at fork

468 ft · 13 sec
Toward FL 72 West
13

Turn straight onto FL 72

3.9 mi · 6 min · Clark Road
14

Continue on FL 72

0.1 mi · 14 sec · Stickney Point Road
15

Turn right onto Swift Road

1.0 mi · 2 min · Swift Road
16

Turn left onto CR 72A

1.0 mi · 1 min · Proctor Road
17

Turn right onto US 41

0.2 mi · 29 sec · South Tamiami Trail
18

Continue on US 41

0.1 mi · 23 sec · South Tamiami Trail
19

Turn right onto Fiesta Drive

0.1 mi · 33 sec · Fiesta Drive
20

Arrive at destination

Fiesta Drive

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 106 miles from Hollywood, FL, or about 1h 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 186.4 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 47 miles or 53m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 106 miles or 1h 57m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 9m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near South Sarasota, FL than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Hollywood, FL so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Hollywood, FL

This is one driving day of about 212 miles and 3h 56m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Hollywood, FL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 75 for about 186.4 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Lee County, Florida, USA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Bonita Springs, FL

106 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Bonita Springs, FL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 47 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Bonita Springs, FL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 106 miles from Hollywood, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 75 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 186.4 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Tesla Supercharger

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 166.5

Punta Gorda, Florida

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

3 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 166.5

Port Charlotte, Florida

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, ~9 min detour

3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 196.8

Venice, Florida

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Mercedes-Benz Charging Station

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~9 min detour

3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 196.8

Venice, Florida

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336224743

Visit website

Electrify America Charging Station

3.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, ~9 min detour

3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 166.5

Punta Gorda, Florida

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

1.0 ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Around the midpoint, right off the route

1 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 136.3

Fort Myers, Florida

Hours: Open 24 hours

Blink Charging Station

1.0 ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 136.3

Fort Myers, Florida

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 136.3

Fort Myers, Florida

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

iFLY Indoor Skydiving - Fort Lauderdale

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 15.1

Davie, Florida

Hours: 10 am–5:30 pm

+19542804359

Visit website

Volunteer Park Community Center

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 15.1

Plantation, Florida

Hours: 10 am–6 pm

+19544522558

Visit website

Ingalls Park

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour

Hallandale Beach, Florida

Hours: 7 am–7 pm

+19544571452

Visit website

Anne Kolb Nature Center

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour

Hollywood, Florida

Hours: 8 am–7:30 pm

+19543575161

Visit website

Oscar Scherer State Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 196.8

Osprey, Florida

+19414835956

Visit website

Sarasota Bay Explorers

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~11 min detour

4.2 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 212

Sarasota, Florida

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+19413884200

Visit website

Wonder Gardens

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~11 min detour

4.3 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 121.1

Bonita Springs, Florida

Hours: 9 am–4 pm

+12399922591

Visit website

Veterans Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~11 min detour

4.6 mi from route ~11 min detour

Aventura, Florida

Hours: 8 am–6 pm

+13054668930

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 17

5 decision points cluster between mile 1.2 and 204.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
1.2 mi into trip | ~1m in

Take the exit toward I 95 North: West Palm Beach

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Toward I 95 North: West Palm Beach
8
5.6 mi into trip | ~7m in

Take the exit toward I 595: Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 24 Toward I 595: Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale-...
7
5.8 mi into trip | ~7m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 595 West

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward I 595 West
6
8.4 mi into trip | ~11m in | I 595 / Port Everglades Expressway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 595 / Port Everglades Expressway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
204.9 mi into trip | ~3h 43m in

Take the exit toward FL 72: Siesta Key, Arcadia

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 205 Toward FL 72: Siesta Key, Arcadia

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$33.74 one way

$67.49 round trip

$4.04/gal 25.4 MPG avg 74 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.40 $36.71 $73.42
premium $4.72 $39.42 $78.84
diesel $5.61 $46.81 $93.61

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$34

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$59–$84

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 74.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 63.6 0 $22.26 $10.18
Efficient EV 53 0 $18.55 $8.48
EV Truck/SUV 84.8 1 $29.68 $13.57

Gas CO2

74 kg

EV CO2

25 kg (66% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026

Origin

Hollywood, FL

Afternoon in Hollywood on Saturday

Local time

4:08 PM

EDT

Current temp

73°F

Partly Cloudy

E 7 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Fire Weather Watch

Fire Weather Watch issued April 17 at 2:19PM EDT until April 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL

Fire Weather Watch

Fire Weather Watch issued April 17 at 2:19PM EDT until April 20 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL

Destination

South Sarasota, FL

Afternoon in South Sarasota on Saturday

Local time

4:08 PM

EDT

Current temp

81°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

8 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

3h 56m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

De Soto National Memorial

De Soto National Memorial

National Memorial

In May 1539, Conquistador Hernando de Soto’s army of soldiers, hired mercenaries, craftsmen, and clergy made landfall in Tampa Bay. They were met with fierce resistance of indigenous people protecting...

18 mi from route ~44 min detour Free near mile 212
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

212 mi in 3h 56m, mostly highway — 186.4 mi of that is on I 75.

95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 186.4 mi on I 75.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and Port Everglades Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in.

Driving Effort 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 212 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

About the Cities

Starting in Hollywood, FL

Full guide →

Hollywood is a city in Florida, located between Fort Lauderdale and Miami. With a population of 153,000 people (2022), Hollywood is a relatively small city that retains an old, laid-back, Florida feel to it compared to the larger cities in the area.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 56m. Total distance: 212 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 186.4 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at South Sarasota, FL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes — De Soto National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.9 hours — manageable with a long break at South Sarasota, FL, but most travelers stay overnight.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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